Caramoan Islands – Caramoan, Camarines Sur (Travel Guide + Tips)

CARAMOAN ISLANDS

Caramoan is an island-hopping destination. It is known for its limestone islands and the mysterious bangus in its enchanted lagoon. Caramoan is also known for the shooting location of the reality television series, Survivor.

CARAMOAN BACK THEN

Traveling to Caramoan is probably one of my unforgettable experiences. We went there when I was a teenager, the place is still not a known tourist spot. The travel going there is far and uncomfortable. We rode a bangka for 2 hours from San Jose port going to a town that I don’t remember. Then from there, we rode a very big jeepney. It’s like an armored truck. The reason for that is that the road going to Caramoan is still being developed so there were a lot of bumps along the way. A very big vehicle is the solution. There were no hotels back then so we rented a tent as our accommodation. That night it rained so hard and water started to enter our tent and as a result, we didn’t have a good night’s sleep. But there was a moment when the sky cleared and we saw the sky full of stars, it was magical. From that experience, I was not sure if I would ever set foot on these islands again. Not because of it being undeveloped but because of its proximity.

BACK TO CARAMOAN

Fortunately, I had the chance to visit Caramoan again. This Holy Week of 2023 my family wanted and decided to travel to Caramoan. This time we travel by land. We drove from Naga City, Camarines Sur to Paniman, Caramoan where the jump off to the islands is located. It took us 4 hours to get there. The road to Caramoan is challenging, there are a lot of zigzags and ascending and descending parts. We got dizzy but we managed to arrive there before the afternoon island hopping sessions.

ISLAND HOPPING & THE BANGUS

Because of the Survivor franchise, the place is now a known tourist destination. Roads and hotels are now built and thriving. We checked in first to our booked resort and had our lunch. The resort offered us the island hopping package. At the tourism center, we paid the environmental fee and rode the Bangka to the islands. Our tour includes 4 islands: Lahos, Matukad, Cagbalinad, and Minalahos. Out of the 4, Matukad is the one I enjoyed the most because we climbed a limestone wall to see the bangus inside the enchanted lagoon. There we see the bangus, not just one but two! From there, it is not just the enchanted lagoon that will make you in awe but also the view of the whole Caramoan Islands. Just a few steps up, we had a magnificent 360 view of the sea and the islands. In addition, the sand in Matukad is probably one of the finest sands I’ve ever seen.

The last island we visited was Minalahos and we just stayed there until we decided to come back to town. it is a small island but its limestone rock formations are amazing. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was starting to set. It added color to the waters and the limestones. The place is paradise.

SURVIVOR AT GOTA BEACH

The next day we didn’t do island hopping activities. We wanted to go to Gota Beach, one of the famous attractions in Caramoan. Unfortunately, access to the beach is restricted because of the ongoing planning/shooting of a new Survivor series. Instead, we stayed at the beach near the entrance to Gota Beach. The view from there is also amazing. After spending some time there, we packed our stuff and readied ourselves for the road ahead.

If given the power to teleport, I will always teleport back to experience Caramoan again. Caramoan Islands is a very beautiful destination, I just hope that more developments should be done there especially ways to minimize travel time. By the way, the best time to visit the Caramoan Islands is during the dry season from December to May. Cheers!

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TRAVEL GUIDE & TIPS

LOCATION:

• Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Philippines

HOW TO GET THERE:

a. By Air & Land:

• Book a flight from Manila to Naga City (Camarines Sur) via a domestic airline. (Travel Time: 1 Hour)
• From Naga City airport, take a taxi or a van to Sabang Port. (Travel Time: 1-2 Hours)
• From Sabang Port, take a boat to Guijalo Port in Caramoan. (Travel Time: 2 Hours)
• From Guijalo Port, take a tricycle or a jeepney to your chosen accommodation in Caramoan.

b. By Bus & Boat:

• Take a bus (Peñafrancia Bus or Bicol Isarog Bus) from Metro Manila to Naga City. (Travel Time: 8-10 Hours)
• From Naga City, you will need to get a van or bus to Sabang Port. (Travel Time: 1-2 Hours)
• From Sabang Port, take a boat to Guijalo Port in Caramoan. (Travel Time: 2 Hours)
• From Guijalo Port, take a tricycle or a jeepney to your chosen accommodation in Caramoan.

FEES:

• Environmental Fee: ₱20.00
• Island Hopping Tour: ₱1,500-₱2,000

If you want to avail discounts and know more details, check this Klook Promo: CARAMOAN ISLAND HOPPING PRIVATE TOUR.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

• ACCOMMODATIONS IN CARAMOAN
• ACCOMMODATIONS IN NAGA CITY

*If you want to try our booked accommodation, check RMTM’s Beachfront Accommodation.

POWER PACK:

• Tent
• Swimwear
• Insect Repellant
• Sunblock
• Mini Fan
• Dry Bag
• Hat
• Beach Mat
• Sunglasses
• Water Bottle
• Extra Clothes

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• Whale Shark and Firefly Watching in Donsol, Sorsogon
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CONNECT:

• Facebook Page: Caramoan LGU
• Email Adress: lgucaramoan.mo@gmail.com, caramoan.muntourism2021@gmail.com
• Contact Numbers (Caramoan LGU): 0963-701-6888 (TNT), 0953-422-7049, 0938-370-6908 (Tourism Office)

NOTES:

• Avoid littering. Don’t throw your trash anywhere. Caramoan is a protected area, let’s keep it clean.
• There are a lot of activities to do in Caramoan including snorkeling, kayaking, and diving.
• Always bring cash, the area is still remote so ATM machines are not available.
• Poisonous sea snakes live in the area so be extra careful.
• If the Survivor is filming, some islands or beaches can’t be visited.
• The best time to visit is during the dry season from December to May. Caramoan is a typhoon-prone area.

©CHASEJASE